Killing Time is a group exhibition which explores the ‘dirty habit’ of smoking, and questions the contradiction of celebrating the cultural value of this increasingly socially unacceptable act.
Since 2011, Chapter House Lane has offered smokers a backdrop against which to enjoy what Jean-Paul Sartre described as a ‘little crematory sacrifice.’ The cigarette butts littered outside the display window provide material evidence of an incidental audience, who – like second-hand smokers – have passively consumed the exhibitions. But as regulations on public space and anti-smoking legislation increase, what happens as these audiences are pushed further to the perimeters? Who do these laws impact, and in the pursuit of public health: what is lost in the sanitisation of the city?
As art critic Brian Dillon has described, ‘smoking is (or was) the modern means of experiencing time: a way of briefly opting out of a tedious job, or accompanying the rhythms of work and thought with a glowing rosary.’ Killing Time is a tip of the hat to our unintended smoko audience, who included Chapter House Lane in their quotidian navigation of the city for a hit of nicotine.
All are welcome – not to celebrate the cigarette, but in endorsement of the abiding state of ambiguity the laneway provides. Here you may kill time however you best please.
Download the curatorial statement
About the artists:
Colleen Ahern is a Melbourne based artist working predominantly in painting. Ahern was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1999. Some of her recent solo exhibitions include Tonight, TCB art inc. (2016); Party-time wasting, CAVES (2017); Frantic Romantic, Neon Parc (2007). Selected group exhibitions include The drawing is just not there, West Space (2018); A Way of Calling, Linden New Art (2011); Smoking Gun, Death Be Kind (2011); Photocopier, Centre for Contemporary Photography (2010). Ahern is represented by Neon Parc, Melbourne.
Kirsty Budge is a New Zealand born, Melbourne based artist. Budge holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) from the Victorian College of the Arts, where she was a recipient of the 2014 Stirling Collective Award for Painting. Several of her recent solo exhibitions include Gawkalitis, Daine Singer (2017); I’m not desperate, you’re desperate, Sarah Scout Presents (2016). In 2018, Budge undertook a residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, as a recipient of an Art Gallery of New South Wales Studio Scholarship. In 2016, Budge exhibited in Painting. More Painting, a major survey of Australian contemporary painting at Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. Her work is held in the Artbank Collection, and private collections in Australia. Budge is represented by Daine Singer, Melbourne.
Kate Just in an American-born Australian multi-disciplinary artist who interweaves personal narratives with diverse histories of female representation. She was awarded a PhD in Sculpture from Monash University in 2013, Masters of Arts (Fine Arts) from RMIT in 2008, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2002. Just has exhibited in over one hundred group and solo shows, both nationally and internationally, including Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, A.I.R Gallery and AC Institute in New York, Gertrude Contemporary, and the National Gallery of Australia. She has been the recipient of over forty grants, prizes, fellowships, awards and residencies. Just’s work is held in numerous private and public collections including Artbank, Ararat Regional Gallery and National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. See the artist’s website.
Dan Moynihan is a Melbourne based multi-disciplinary artist, who graduated from Wollongong University with a Bachelor of Creative Arts in 2004. Moynihan has exhibited in Australia and internationally. A selection of his recent solo exhibitions include No More Lonely Nights, Tolarno Galleries (2014), Lost in Space, Gertrude Contemporary (2013); In and Out, No Funny Business, Hell Gallery (2009); Still Sitting Still, Utopian Slumps (2009). Moynihan has completed site-specific public artworks for the Monash University Collection, and in 2008 was awarded the New Work Grant from the Australia Council for the Arts. Moynihan is represented by Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne.
Oscar Perry is an artist born in the United Kingdom that lives and works in Melbourne. Perry was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2009 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art (Painting) from RMIT in 2012. A selection of his solo exhibitions include The Michelin Star, The Commercial, Sydney (2018); The Natural, Fontanelle Gallery, Adelaide (2017); Essential Oils, Bowerbank Ninow, Auckland (2016); Imperial Leather, Utopian Slumps (2012). In 2016, Perry exhibited in Painting. More Painting, a major survey of Australian contemporary painting at Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. Perry’s work is held in Artbank and the Chartwell Collection. He is represented by The Commercial, Sydney and Bowerbank Ninow, Auckland.
Toby Pola is a Melbourne based artist who makes hand-carved wood sculptures. Pola was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Victorian College of Arts in 1993. Pola has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions in Australia. His selected solo exhibitions include Uniform Choice, Hugo Michell Gallery, Adelaide (2016); We Outnumber You, Sutton Projects (2014); No Deposit No Return, Utopian Slumps (2012); life sux then you die, West Space (2012); Loose Nut, Bett Gallery, Hobart (2013). A selection of his group exhibitions include The Kenneth Biennale, TCB art inc. (2013); Smoking Gun, Death Be Kind (2011). Pola’s work is held in numerous private collections as well as the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria.